Optical receiver systems and methods for polarization demultiplexing, pmd compensation, and dxpsk demodulation

ABSTRACT

A simplified optical receiver architecture capable of tracking and demultiplexing polarization-multiplexed signals, dynamically compensating for PMD using a variety of polarization controller technologies, and reducing the number of delay line demodulators by two for both DPSK and DQPSK modulation is illustrated. Once polarization is stabilized at the first stage of the cascaded system of the present invention, subsequent stages can be simplified and cost reduced.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to optical receivers, and moreparticularly, to systems and methods for a simplified optical receiverarchitecture capable of tracking and demultiplexingpolarization-multiplexed signals, dynamically compensating forPolarization Mode Dispersion (PMD) using a variety of polarizationcontroller technologies, and reducing the number of delay linedemodulators by two for both Differential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK) andDifferential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) modulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional fiber optic communication systems are well-developed fortransmitting high-data rate signals, such as 10 Gbps and 40 Gbpssignals. However, these high data rates are being pushed towards everincreasing speeds due to rapid growth in networks. For example, currentstandards bodies (e.g., IEEE) are considering data rates of 100 Gbps,which would require ever higher transmission rates (i.e., approximately112 Gbps), once forward error correction (FEC) and framing (e.g., G.709)overheads are considered. Other standards bodies, such as ITU-T, areconsidering data rates of 120 Gbps, again requiring even highertransmission rates (i.e., approximately 130 Gbps). Such high data ratesare beyond the limit of conventional electronics and optics. Forexample, conventional systems utilize a direct binary modulation scheme.Disadvantageously, direct binary modulation schemes have poor spectralefficiency which limits overall transmission system utilization inwavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems.

One method for improving spectral efficiency and reducing the demands onsystem electronics and optics is to use both orthogonal polarizations ofoptical signals in single-mode fibers (SMFs), i.e., polarizationmultiplexing (PolMux). This effectively reduces the signal baud rate bya factor of two by transmitting two data streams on the same carriersignal. Signal transmission properties can also be improved by usingDifferential Phase Shift Keying (DPSK), which provides both enhancedtolerance to optical amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, and anenhanced tolerance to deleterious fiber non-linear effects.

A further improvement in spectral efficiency, while preserving otheradvantages, can be achieved using Differential Quadrature Phase ShiftKeying (DQPSK) transmission. At the same time, tolerance to chromaticdispersion (CD) is increased and the baud rate of the signal is alsodecreased (but not the bit rate). For example, a 112 Gbps signal can betransmitted using PolMux and DQPSK encoding as a 28 GBaud signal,correspondingly requiring electronic and optical components that need tosupport only a 28 Gbps bit rate. Advantageously, this allows forhigh-data rate signal transmission exceeding the limitations ofconventional direct binary modulation schemes.

Of note, polarization multiplexed systems require a receiverarchitecture configured to perform polarization demultiplexing andpolarization mode dispersion (PMD) mitigation. PMD is a generallydeleterious effect experienced by high-bit rate optical signals as theypropagate in fibers. It is related to a deviation in fiber geometry awayfrom an ideal perfectly circular symmetry. The optical signal iscorrespondingly split into two polarization modes (Principal States ofPolarization—PSP), which propagate with different speeds, i.e., thefiber becomes birefringent and looks like a very large collection ofwaveplates, due to the fiber geometry.

At some point, there is sufficient delay that accumulates between themodes such that the signal arriving at the receiver looks like twostreams with different arrival times. The received signal experiencesdual-path interference. The delay is independent of the signal datarate, and is an intrinsic property of the fiber optic link. However, theimpairment experienced by the data signal is proportional to the bitrate, as the bit period is shortened. PMD poses a particular problemwith polarization multiplexing as data is carried on orthogonalpolarizations, and PMD destroys the orthogonality and inducespolarization cross-talk. Accordingly, PMD mitigation is a requiredcomponent in high-speed receiver architectures for polarizationmultiplexing.

Referring to FIG. 1, the current state of the art for a polarizationmultiplexed/DxPSK receiver system 10 uses separate building blocks12,14,16 for the functions required to implement PMD mitigation 12,polarization demultiplexing 14,16, and DPSK/DQPSK (collectively referredto as “DxPSK”) signal demodulation and balanced detection 22,24,26,28.Disadvantageously, conventional transmission schemes have increasedcomplexity associated with receiver design. For example, an input 28includes an optical signal with two polarizations. The input 28 isconnected to a PMD compensator 12 shared for both polarization states. Acontroller 18 is utilized to provide feedback and control between thePMD compensator 12 and a polarization controller (PC) 14.

In particular, the system 10 is required to separate orthogonalpolarizations with a high degree of polarization cross-talk rejection ata polarization beam splitter (PBS) 16. Also, PMD tolerance is degradedas it destroys orthogonality between polarizations. Finally, DxPSKmodulation requires a separate Delay Demodulator 20,22 for eachQuadrature and polarization (i.e., two for DPSK and four for DQPSK),which correspondingly increases system cost. Treating each stage as anindependent PMD Compensator, followed by PM demultiplexing, followed byDxPSK demodulation is rather expensive, inefficient, and would requirefaster control loops at each stage.

Thus, it would be highly advantageous to provide a receiver scheme thatcan achieve PMD mitigation, polarization demultiplexing, and DxPSKsignal demodulation and balanced detection in a single system with areduced part count.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides asimplified optical receiver architecture capable of tracking anddemultiplexing polarization-multiplexed signals, dynamicallycompensating for PMD using a variety of polarization controllertechnologies, and reducing the number of delay line demodulators by twofor both DPSK and DQPSK modulation. Once polarization is controlled atthe first stage of the cascaded system of the present invention,subsequent stages can be simplified and cost reduced. This approachrequires careful consideration of polarization through the completereceiver optical chain.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical receiversystem includes a polarization demultiplexing and polarization modedispersion mitigation section, a first polarization beam splitterreceiving an output from the polarization demultiplexing andpolarization mode dispersion mitigation section, and a demodulator. Thepolarization demultiplexing and polarization mode dispersion mitigationsection includes a polarization controller connected to a firstbirefringent element, the first birefringement element connected to afirst single-stage waveplate, and a control processor configured tocontrol the polarization controller and the first single-stage waveplateresponsive to a feedback signal. The demodulator includes a secondbirefringent element receiving a first polarization from the firstpolarization beam splitter, a second polarization beam splitterconnected to the second birefringent element, a first set ofphoto-detectors receiving outputs from the second polarization beamsplitter, a third birefringent element receiving a second polarizationfrom the first polarization beam splitter, a third polarization beamsplitter connected to the third birefringent element, and a second setof photo-detectors receiving the outputs from third polarization beamsplitter. Optionally, the optical receiver system further includes asecond birefringent element connected to the first single-stagewaveplate, and the second birefringent element connected to a secondsingle-stage waveplate, wherein the control processor is furtherconfigured to control the second single-stage waveplate. The first,second, and third birefringent elements include one of stabilizedpolarization maintaining fiber, a birefringent crystal element, and apolarization separated diverse path element. The stabilized polarizationmaintaining fiber includes active thermal stabilization.

The optical receiver system further includes a coupler located after thefirst polarization beam splitter operable to provide a signal tap, and asignal detector configured to receive the signal tap and generate thefeedback signal for the control processor to mitigate polarization modedispersion. The polarization controller, the first birefringent element,and the first single-stage waveplate are configured to create twoorthogonal polarization propagation modes with negligible couplingbetween modes. Each of the second and third birefringent elements areconfigured to provide a one bit delay, and wherein the demodulatorfurther includes splices between each of the second and thirdbirefringent elements. The polarization demultiplexing and polarizationmode dispersion mitigation section is configured to stabilizepolarization and mitigate polarization mode dispersion simultaneously.The optical receiver system further includes an incoming optical signalto the polarization demultiplexing and polarization mode dispersionmitigation section, wherein the incoming optical signal includespolarization multiplexing and one of Differential Phase Shift Keying andDifferential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying.

In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an opticalreceiver system with a double-pass architecture processing bothpolarizations in a demodulator includes a polarization demultiplexingand polarization mode dispersion mitigation section and a demodulator.The polarization demultiplexing and polarization mode dispersionmitigation section includes a polarization controller connected to afirst port of a circulator, a first birefringent element connected to asecond port of the circulator, a first single-stage waveplate connectedto the first birefringent element, a second birefringent elementconnected to the first single-stage waveplate, a mirror connected to thesecond birefringent element, and a control processor configured tocontrol the polarization controller and the first single-stage waveplateresponsive to a feedback signal, wherein the circulator and mirror areoperable to form the double pass architecture. The demodulator includesa delay interferometer receiving an output at a third port of thecirculator, first and second polarization beam splitters each receivingan output from the delay interferometer, wherein the delayinterferometer is configured to send a first and second polarization toboth the first and second polarization beam splitters, a first set ofphoto-detectors receiving the first polarization from each of the firstand second polarization beam splitters, and a second set ofphoto-detectors receiving the second polarization from each of the firstand second polarization beam splitters. Optionally, the optical receiversystem further includes a second single-stage waveplate connectedbetween the third port of the circulator and the delay interferometer,wherein the control processor is further configured to control thesecond single-stage waveplate. The first and second birefringentelements include one of stabilized polarization maintaining fiber, abirefringent crystal element, and a polarization separated diverse pathelement. The stabilized polarization maintaining fiber includes activethermal stabilization.

Alternatively, the demodulator is a first demodulator, the output fromthe third port of the circulator is split, and the optical receiversystem further includes a second demodulator. The second demodulatorincludes a second delay interferometer receiving the split output fromthe third port of the circulator, third and fourth polarization beamsplitters each receiving an output from the second delay interferometer,wherein the second delay interferometer is configured to send the firstand second polarization to both the third and fourth polarization beamsplitters, a third set of photo-detectors receiving the firstpolarization from each of the third and fourth polarization beamsplitters, and a fourth set of photo-detectors receiving the secondpolarization from each of the third and fourth polarization beamsplitters. The polarization controller, the first and secondbirefringent elements, and the first single-stage waveplate areconfigured to create two orthogonal polarization propagation modes withnegligible coupling between modes, and the polarization demultiplexingand polarization mode dispersion mitigation section is configured tostabilize polarization and mitigate polarization mode dispersionsimultaneously.

In yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an opticalreceiver system with a double-pass architecture separately processingboth polarizations in a demodulator includes a polarizationdemultiplexing and polarization mode dispersion mitigation section, afirst polarization beam splitter receiving an output from a third portof the circulator, the first polarization beam splitter operable toseparate a first and second polarization, and a demodulator. The apolarization demultiplexing and polarization mode dispersion mitigationsection includes a polarization controller connected to a first port ofa circulator, a first birefringent element connected to a second port ofthe circulator, a first single-stage waveplate connected to the firstbirefringent element, a second birefringent element connected to thefirst single-stage waveplate, a mirror connected to the secondbirefringent element, and a control processor configured to control thepolarization controller and the first single-stage waveplate responsiveto a feedback signal, wherein the circulator and mirror are operable toform the double pass architecture. The demodulator includes a firstdelay interferometer receiving the first polarization from the firstpolarization beam splitter, the first delay interferometer including abirefringent waveplate, second and third polarization beam splitterseach receiving an output from the first delay interferometer, a firstset of photo-detectors receiving an in-phase component of the firstpolarization from each of the second and third polarization beamsplitters, and a second set of photo-detectors receiving a quadraturecomponent of the first polarization from each of the second and thirdpolarization beam splitters. The demodulator further includes a seconddelay interferometer receiving the second polarization from the firstpolarization beam splitter, the second delay interferometer including abirefringent waveplate, fourth and fifth polarization beam splitterseach receiving an output from the second delay interferometer, a thirdset of photo-detectors receiving an in-phase component of the secondpolarization from each of the fourth and fifth polarization beamsplitters, and a fourth set of photo-detectors receiving a quadraturecomponent of the second polarization from each of the fourth and fifthpolarization beam splitters.

Optionally, the optical receiver system further includes a secondsingle-stage waveplate connected between the third port of thecirculator and the first polarization beam splitter, wherein the controlprocessor is further configured to control the second single-stagewaveplate. The first and second birefringent elements include one ofstabilized polarization maintaining fiber, a birefringent crystalelement, and a polarization separated diverse path element. Thestabilized polarization maintaining fiber includes active thermalstabilization. The polarization controller, the first and secondbirefringent elements, and the first single-stage waveplate areconfigured to create two orthogonal polarization propagation modes withnegligible coupling between modes, and the polarization demultiplexingand polarization mode dispersion mitigation section is configured tostabilize polarization and mitigate polarization mode dispersionsimultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with referenceto the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used todenote like system components, as appropriate, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional receiver system usingseparate building blocks for the functions required to implement PMDmitigation, polarization demultiplexing and DPSK/DQPSK signaldemodulation and balanced detection;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical receiver system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of DPSK withReturn-to-Zero (RZ) pulses;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating various exemplary embodiments ofdifferent relative delay elements which can be utilized in the firststage and in the DxPSK demodulator;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an optical receiver system whichprovides an increase in the effective number of stages and reducesrequired PMF fiber use according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another demodulator system forDQPSK demodulation with both the I and Q channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides asimplified optical receiver architecture capable of tracking anddemultiplexing polarization-multiplexed signals, dynamicallycompensating for PMD using a variety of polarization controllertechnologies, and reducing the number of delay line demodulators by twofor both DPSK and DQPSK modulation. Once polarization is stabilized atthe first stage of the cascaded system of the present invention,subsequent stages can be simplified and cost reduced.

The present invention stabilizes polarization maintaining fiber (PMF)sections such that phase variations stay well within a single 2π period.Thus, the present invention only requires a single, fully-arbitrarypolarization controller, and subsequent controllers can be implementedas single-stage adjustable waveplates with a well-defined axisorientation. Alternatively, the present invention contemplates usingcrystal-based differential polarization delays or the like instead ofPMF sections.

Referring to FIG. 2, an optical receiver system 30 is illustratedaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Thereceiver system 30 receives an input 32, such as from single mode fiber(SMF), and the input 32 includes an optical signal with two polarizationstates. The receiver system 30 is a cascaded system providingpolarization demultiplexing, PMD mitigation, and DxPSK demodulation. Ina first stage 34, the system 30 performs simultaneous polarizationdemultiplexing and PMD mitigation. Advantageously, once polarization isstabilized in the first stage 34, subsequent stages are simplified andcost reduced.

The present invention combines these functions and continually monitorspolarization through the optical receiver system 30. By combining thesefunctions, the receiver system 30 reduces control loop complexityrelative to conventional designs. Additionally, the present inventioncan utilize a variety of polarization controller technologies reducingcost and increasing tracking and compensation bandwidth. Further, thepresent invention reduces the number of delay line demodulators by twofor both DPSK and DQPSK modulation.

In the first stage 34, the input 32 is connected to a Multi-StageEndless Polarization Controller (PC) 36. The PC 36 is configured tocompensate for polarization fluctuations to provide a stable state ofpolarization (SOP). The basic building block of the PC 36 is an opticalwaveplate. The waveplate separates the incoming optical signal into twoorthogonal polarizations (i.e., vertical and horizontal), and imposes arelative optical phase shift. For example, a λ/2 waveplate oriented atX° to the incoming linear polarization rotates it by 2X°, e.g., a 45°oriented λ/2 plate rotates the signal by 90°. In another example, a λ/4waveplate at 45° transforms a linear polarization to circular.

Generally, PCs 36 are implemented as a collection of cascaded waveplateswhich are controlled by an external parameter, such as feedback from acontrol processor 42. Each waveplate in the PC 36 can have two controlparameters, i.e. its axis of orientation and its relative phase delayorder. Some polarization control methods control both parameters andsome only one with corresponding trade-offs. The present inventioncontemplates any polarization control method. In this exemplaryembodiment, the waveplates 36 include cascaded rotating waveplatesimplemented in X-cut Z-propagating LiNbO3 material, or in X-cutY-propagating LiNbO3 material.

The first stage 34 also includes additional waveplates 38,40 which aresingle-stage variable waveplates. The present invention stabilizes theincoming optical signal in the first stage 34 such that phase variationsstay within a single 2π period. Accordingly, the optical receiver system30 only requires a single fully-arbitrary PC, such as the PC 36.Subsequent control is implemented as the single-stage waveplates 38,40.

The control processor 42 is configured to control the PC 36 andwaveplates 38,40 responsive to an error signal received from a signaldetector and error signal generator 44. The detector/generator 44 isconfigured to receive an optical tap from a coupler 46 which taps aportion of the optical signal after a polarization beam splitter (PBS)48 has separated the polarizations. The detector/generator 44 measuresthe fluctuations in the optical signal's polarization andinter-polarization crosstalk and provides a feedback signal in the formof an error signal to the control processor 42 which in turn controlsthe PC 36 and waveplates 38,40.

The control processor 42, PC 36, and waveplates 38,40 are operable tomitigate PMD. The optical signal separates into two polarization modes,i.e. principle states of polarization (PSP), which propagate withdifferent speeds, i.e. the fiber becomes birefringent and looks like avery large collection of waveplates. At some point, there is sufficientdelay caused by PMD that accumulates between the modes such that thesignal arriving at the input 32 looks like two streams with differentarrival times. This delay is independent of the signal data rate, and isan intrinsic property of fiber.

The first stage 34 stabilizes the incoming polarization, i.e., thevertical and horizontal components, in the receiver system 30 andintroduces a relative delay that is approximately equal to the delayaccumulated in the fiber. But the relative sign of the delay is reversedsuch that a component that was delayed in the transmission fiber isadvanced in the compensation section. The delay element can be some formof physical path difference, such as a highly birefringent crystal orhighly birefringent fiber such as polarization maintaining fiber 50,52.The waveplates 36,38 serve to align appropriate optical signal componentto either slow or fast axis of the birefringent element, such that arelative time delay is induced between the optical signal components bythe birefringent element (i.e., PMF, crystal, diverse path, etc.).

In this exemplary embodiment, the PC 36 and waveplates 38,40 areconnected through two sections of stabilized polarization maintainingfiber (PMF) 50,52. PMF 50,52 uses a purposely induced stress orellipticity around the core to induce a strong directional difference inthe optical index of refraction. Thus, two orthogonal polarizationpropagation modes are created with negligible coupling between them.This difference in the index of refraction creates different mode groupvelocity, and typical commercial fibers exhibit mode differential delayof approximately 1 ps per 0.6 m. Thus, a half-bit delay for a 28 Gbpssignal would require approximately 71.3 ps delay which is approximately43 m of PMF 50,52. The PMF 50,52 mitigates PMD by introducing relativedelay in this stage 34. In alternative exemplary embodiments, the PC 36and waveplates 38,40 can be connected through birefringent crystalelements, polarization separated diverse path elements, and the like.

After the first stage 34, the optical signal is input into the PBS 48which simply separates the orthogonal polarizations of the opticalsignal. Following the PBS 48, the optical signal is split into twopolarizations 54,56 and sent on separate paths for DxPSK demodulation.DPSK and DQPSK schemes fall into a general class of phase modulation.These are detected by a self-homodyne differential principal. Referringto FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of DPSK with RZ pulses isillustrated. Note, DPSK and DQPSK can also be utilized with non-returnto zero (NRZ) pulses as well. First, RZ pulses 80 are input into a phasemodulator 82 which using pre-coded data performs phase modulation tooutput a DPSK phase modulated RZ data stream 84.

The transmitted data in the data stream 84 is encoded as a differentialphase shift of π. For example, if a “0” is sent, then a phase shift ismade of π or −π, and if a “1” is sent, the phase is kept the same. Thedata stream 84 is transmitted over a path 86, such as optical fiber. Ata receiver 88, two copies are made of the optical signal and one copy isdelayed by one bit period with a delay interferometer. A comparison isdone at the output of the interferometer. If the phases are the same,constructive interference produces a pulse on a “1” port 90, and if thephases are inverted, constructive interference produces a pulse on a “0”port 92. Both of these pulses on the ports 90,92 are electricallyobserved with photo-detectors 94 and subtracted. Thus, “1” is observedas a +pulse, and “0” observed as a −pulse on a conventional electricaldata recovery circuit. DQPSK is similar, but the phase shift incrementis π/2.

Referring back to FIG. 2, in an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the two polarizations 54,56 each go through a 45° splice 58followed by a section of stabilized PMF fiber 60. The 45° splice 58splits optical signal equally between slow and fast axes of the PMFfiber 60, which is in turn used to induce a relative one bit delayrequired for the demodulation. After the PMF fiber 60, the signals areprocessed by a PBS 64 with its axes oriented at 45° relative to the PMFfiber. Hence, fast and slow optical components for optical interference,and produce an in-phase output to the “1” port of PBS 90 or out-of-phaseoutput to “0” port of PBS 90. This operation is functionally identicalto that of Delay Interferometer 88 of FIG. 3.

The performance of the optical receiver system 30 is governed by the PC36, the number of waveplates 38,40, and PMF sections 50,52 in the firststage 34. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 includes two sections.Other configurations can include additional waveplates and PMF sections,which has the effect of improving overall receiver performance and PMDcompensation ability with a trade-off of increased cost and complexity.

Referring to FIG. 4, in various exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, different relative delay elements 100,102,104 can be utilizedas the birefringent element in the first stage and in the DxPSKdemodulator. These various delay elements 100,102,104 are configured toprovide fixed relative delays between orthogonal polarizations. In afirst option, a stabilized PMF section 100 can be utilized for the delayelement as illustrated in FIG. 2. PMF 100 is an optical fiber in whichthe polarization planes of light waves launched into the fiber aremaintained during propagation with little or no cross-coupling ofoptical power between the polarization modes. Several different designsof PMF 100 are used, such as by inducing stress in the core via anon-circular cladding cross-section, or via rods of another materialincluded within the cladding. Disadvantageously, PMF 100 is expensiveand has higher attenuation than standard single mode fiber.

The present invention stabilizes PM fiber sections utilizing mechanismsthat induce relative optical phase shifts between the two modes (“slow”and “fast”) of the PM Fiber. Changes in temperature induce a change inglass material refractive index and produce thermal expansion. The indexthermal coefficient (1/n dn/dT) is ˜8×10⁻⁶/° C., and the thermalexpansion coefficient (K_(exp)=1/1 dl/dT) is 8×10⁻⁷/° C. However, thedominant mechanism in PM Fibers is thermally-induced change inbirefringence. For example, calculations set this coefficient for acommon PANDA-type fiber around K_(B)˜−1×10⁻³/° C., which is severalorders of magnitude higher than thermal expansion (index change isalready included into this effect). PM Fibers with reduced thermaldependence have been demonstrated, but have not yet seen wide commercialdevelopment.

The relative optical phase shift between the “slow” and “fast” modes ofthe PM fiber can be computed as follows:

${\frac{{\Delta\varphi}}{T} = {\frac{2\pi \; L}{L_{B}}\left( {K_{\exp} + K_{B}} \right)}},$

where L_(B) is the beat length of the PM fiber.

Assuming a typical parameter of L_(B)˜3 mm, and required PM Fiberlength, the resulting phase shift is

${\frac{{\Delta\varphi}}{T} = {{- 44}\mspace{14mu} {rad}\text{/}{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\; {for}}\mspace{14mu} 21\mspace{14mu} m\mspace{14mu} {PM}\mspace{14mu} {fiber}}},{and}$${\frac{{\Delta\varphi}}{T} = {{- 25}\mspace{14mu} {rad}\text{/}{^\circ}\mspace{14mu} {C.\mspace{11mu} {for}}\mspace{14mu} 12\mspace{14mu} m\mspace{14mu} {PM}\mspace{14mu} {{fiber}.}}}\;$

With a typical industrial temperature variation range extending over ˜50degrees, the effective phase change will be ˜2200 radians or ˜350 fullwave periods. Clearly, such huge thermal dependence requires activestabilization, and stabilization must be thermal. PM Fibers with reducedthermal dependence can be stabilized in other ways, such as, forexample, with a mechanical stretcher mechanism.

The required thermal stability for PMD compensation section can becalculated by assuming that the present invention can tolerate at most a±π/2 phase variation over temperature, and the required thermal controlstability is in this case ΔT=±π/2/25=0.068° C. This stability is quiteachievable with today's thermal control state of the art, and furtherprecision is achieved with the 1-stage variable waveplate following thePM section.

The required thermal stability for signal demodulator section can becalculated by assuming that the present invention can tolerate at most a±π/60 phase variation over temperature, and the required thermal controlstability is in this case ΔT=±π/60/44=0.0012° C. This stability ischallenging, and further improvement can be achieved by coupling to afiber stretcher control.

The calculations and numbers provided herein are close to worst casespecifications, i.e. assuming a specific PANDA-type fiber with extremelyhigh thermal dependence. Other fiber types, such as air hole assisted PMfiber can have a factor of 10 smaller thermal dependence. Thus, all ofthe above stability requirements can be relaxed by ˜10 times using theseother fiber types.

In another exemplary embodiment, a birefringent crystal element 102 canbe used as the delay element. The birefringent crystal element 102provides a very stable and compact relative delay element, but requiresa crystal with appropriate optical transmission at the wavelengths ofinterest, and requires careful fabrication, packaging, and fiberconnectorization. Further, in yet another option, a diverse path element104 can be utilized with a polarization beam splitter 106, two differinglengths of PMF 108,110, and a polarization beam combiner 112. Thisimplementation avoids crystal transmission issues, but requires carefulassembly of micro-optic elements with a precise relative delay control.

Referring to FIG. 5, in another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, an optical receiver system 120 provides an increase in theeffective number of stages and reduces required PMF fiber use or otherbirefringement elements. The receiver system 120 provides a double-passarchitecture as well as leverages the same delay interferometer toprocess both polarization signals for DPSK demodulation. Additionally,the receiver system 120 can be used for DQPSK detection, butsubstituting the DPSK delay demodulator with a DQPSK delay demodulatorwith four outputs.

An optical signal input 122 including two polarizations is input into apolarization controller 124. In this embodiment, the first stage forpolarization demultiplexing and PMD mitigation includes a circulator130, a first section of stabilized PMF 132, a second section ofstabilized PMF 134, and a mirror 136. The circulator 130 and mirror 136enable the double-pass architecture. A control processor 140 isconfigured to control the PC 124 and waveplates 126,128 to mitigate PMDdynamically and to assure subsequent polarization demultiplexing.Similar to FIG. 2, the optical receiver system 120 stabilizes theincoming optical signal in the first stage such that phase variationsstay within a single 2π period. Accordingly, optical receiver system 120only requires a single fully-arbitrary PC, such as the PC 124.Subsequent control is implemented as the single-stage waveplates126,128.

After the waveplate 128, the optical signal is separated into twopolarizations, polarization 1 and 2 with polarization 1 on the slow axisand polarization 2 on the fast axis. These polarizations are provided toa demodulator 150 for DPSK demodulation. Optionally for DQPSKdemodulation, a second demodulator 152 is included. The demodulator150,152 is a demodulator with non-birefringent operation. A delayinterferometer 154 is a non-birefringent element in this implementation,and it sends the polarizations 1 and 2 to two separate PBSs 156,158.Each PBS 156,158 separates the polarizations 1 and 2. The first PBS 156provides separation on the optical signals corresponding to “1” data onboth polarizations, and the second PBS 158 provides separation on theoptical signals corresponding to “0” data on both polarizations. Theoutputs of the PBSs 156,158 are sent to photo-detectors 160,162 fordetection. The demodulator 150 provides demodulation of an in-phasechannel (I-channel) for DPSK and for DQPSK demodulation. The demodulator152 provides demodulation of a quadrature channel (Q-channel) for DQPSKdemodulation, and is not required for DPSK demodulation.

For DQPSK demodulation, the receiver system 120 uses two separate delayinterferometers for the I and Q channels, but processes bothpolarizations within the same demodulator. Referring to FIG. 6, analternative demodulator system 180 can be utilized with about the samegeneral level of complexity, but with separate polarization signalsprior to delay demodulators 182,184. Each delay demodulator 182,184applies to a single signal polarization, and uses its own internalpolarization mode diversity to separately demodulate I and Q channels.

The demodulator system 180 utilizes the same polarization tracker/PMDcompensation components (components 124-140) from the receiver system120 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the demodulator system 180 is illustrated forDQPSK demodulation with both the I and Q channels, and the system 180could be utilized for DPSK demodulation without the Q channels. Apolarization beam splitter 186 receives the optical signal from thePolarization tracker/PMD Compensator section. The polarization beamsplitter 186 splits the polarizations, and sends them first to a 45°splice 188,190 and then to the delay demodulators 182,184.

The delay demodulators 182,184 each include a birefringent waveplate192,194 to provide relative phase shift between polarizations. The delaydemodulator 182 includes a +π/4 shift waveplate 192, and the delaydemodulator 184 includes a −π/4 waveplate 194. The delay demodulators182,184 create a copy of the optical signal and delay the copy in orderto provide interference to determine phase. After the delay demodulators182,184, the original signal and the copy are separately first sent to a45° splice 196,198,200,202, and then to a PBS 204,206,208,210.

The PBS 204,206 split the first polarization from the original signaland the copy, and provides the outputs to photo-detectors 212,214 forthe I and Q channels of the first polarization. The PBS 208,210 splitthe second polarization from the original signal and the copy, andprovides the outputs to photo-detectors 216,218 for the I and Q channelsof the second polarization.

In the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, thereceiver system architecture provides tracking and demultiplexing ofpolarization multiplexed signals while dynamically compensating for PMD.The present invention can utilize a variety of polarization controllertechniques as are known in the art which can reduce cost and increasetracking and compensation bandwidth. Further, the present inventionreduces the number of delay line demodulators by two for both DPSK andDQPSK demodulation. The present invention combines the functions ofpolarization demultiplexing, PMD mitigation, and DxPSK demodulationrather than treating them as separate, independent blocks.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended tobe covered by the following claims.

1. An optical receiver system, comprising: a polarization demultiplexingand polarization mode dispersion mitigation section, comprising: apolarization controller connected to a first birefringent element; thefirst birefringement element connected to a first single-stagewaveplate; and a control processor configured to control thepolarization controller and the first single-stage waveplate responsiveto a feedback signal; a first polarization beam splitter receiving anoutput from the polarization demultiplexing and polarization modedispersion mitigation section; and a demodulator, comprising: a secondbirefringent element receiving a first polarization from the firstpolarization beam splitter; a second polarization beam splitterconnected to the second birefringent element; a first set ofphoto-detectors receiving outputs from the second polarization beamsplitter; a third birefringent element receiving a second polarizationfrom the first polarization beam splitter; a third polarization beamsplitter connected to the third birefringent element; and a second setof photo-detectors receiving the outputs from third polarization beamsplitter.
 2. The optical receiver system of claim 1, further comprisinga second birefringent element connected to the first single-stagewaveplate, and the second birefringent element connected to a secondsingle-stage waveplate; wherein the control processor is furtherconfigured to control the second single-stage waveplate.
 3. The opticalreceiver system of claim 1, further comprising: a coupler located afterthe first polarization beam splitter operable to provide a signal tap;and a signal detector configured to receive the signal tap and generatethe feedback signal for the control processor to mitigate polarizationmode dispersion.
 4. The optical receiver system of claim 1, wherein thepolarization controller, the first birefringent element, and the firstsingle-stage waveplate are configured to create two orthogonalpolarization propagation modes with negligible coupling between modes.5. The optical receiver system of claim 1, wherein each of the secondand third birefringent elements are configured to provide a one bitdelay, and wherein the demodulator further comprises splices betweeneach of the second and third birefringent elements.
 6. The opticalreceiver system of claim 1, wherein the polarization demultiplexing andpolarization mode dispersion mitigation section is configured tostabilize polarization and mitigate polarization mode dispersionsimultaneously.
 7. The optical receiver system of claim 1, furthercomprising an incoming optical signal to the polarization demultiplexingand polarization mode dispersion mitigation section, wherein theincoming optical signal comprises polarization multiplexing and one ofDifferential Phase Shift Keying and Differential Quadrature Phase ShiftKeying.
 8. The optical receiver system of claim 1, wherein the first,second, and third birefringent elements comprise one of stabilizedpolarization maintaining fiber, a birefringent crystal element, and apolarization separated diverse path element.
 9. The optical receiversystem of claim 8, wherein the stabilized polarization maintaining fibercomprises active thermal stabilization.
 10. An optical receiver systemwith a double-pass architecture processing both polarizations in ademodulator, comprising: a polarization demultiplexing and polarizationmode dispersion mitigation section, comprising: a polarizationcontroller connected to a first port of a circulator; a firstbirefringent element connected to a second port of the circulator; afirst single-stage waveplate connected to the first birefringentelement; a second birefringent element connected to the firstsingle-stage waveplate; a mirror connected to the second birefringentelement; and a control processor configured to control the polarizationcontroller and the first single-stage waveplate responsive to a feedbacksignal; wherein the circulator and mirror are operable to form thedouble pass architecture; and a demodulator, comprising: a delayinterferometer receiving an output at a third port of the circulator;first and second polarization beam splitters each receiving an outputfrom the delay interferometer, wherein the delay interferometer isconfigured to send a first and second polarization to both the first andsecond polarization beam splitters; a first set of photo-detectorsreceiving the first polarization from each of the first and secondpolarization beam splitters; and a second set of photo-detectorsreceiving the second polarization from each of the first and secondpolarization beam splitters.
 11. The optical receiver system of claim10, further comprising a second single-stage waveplate connected betweenthe third port of the circulator and the delay interferometer; whereinthe control processor is further configured to control the secondsingle-stage waveplate.
 12. The optical receiver system of claim 10,wherein the demodulator comprises a first demodulator, wherein theoutput from the third port of the circulator is split, and wherein theoptical receiver system further comprises a second demodulatorcomprising: a second delay interferometer receiving the split outputfrom the third port of the circulator; third and fourth polarizationbeam splitters each receiving an output from the second delayinterferometer, wherein the second delay interferometer is configured tosend the first and second polarization to both the third and fourthpolarization beam splitters; a third set of photo-detectors receivingthe first polarization from each of the third and fourth polarizationbeam splitters; and a fourth set of photo-detectors receiving the secondpolarization from each of the third and fourth polarization beamsplitters.
 13. The optical receiver system of claim 10, wherein thefirst and second birefringent elements comprise one of stabilizedpolarization maintaining fiber, a birefringent crystal element, and apolarization separated diverse path element.
 14. The optical receiversystem of claim 13, wherein the stabilized polarization maintainingfiber comprises active thermal stabilization.
 15. The optical receiversystem of claim 10, wherein the polarization controller, the first andsecond birefringent elements, and the first single-stage waveplate areconfigured to create two orthogonal polarization propagation modes withnegligible coupling between modes; and wherein the polarizationdemultiplexing and polarization mode dispersion mitigation section isconfigured to stabilize polarization and mitigate polarization modedispersion simultaneously.
 16. An optical receiver system with adouble-pass architecture separately processing both polarizations in ademodulator, comprising: a polarization demultiplexing and polarizationmode dispersion mitigation section, comprising: a polarizationcontroller connected to a first port of a circulator; a firstbirefringent element connected to a second port of the circulator; afirst single-stage waveplate connected to the first birefringentelement; a second birefringent element connected to the firstsingle-stage waveplate; a mirror connected to the second birefringentelement; and a control processor configured to control the polarizationcontroller and the first single-stage waveplate responsive to a feedbacksignal; wherein the circulator and mirror are operable to form thedouble pass architecture; a first polarization beam splitter receivingan output from a third port of the circulator, the first polarizationbeam splitter operable to separate a first and second polarization; anda demodulator, comprising: a first delay interferometer receiving thefirst polarization from the first polarization beam splitter, the firstdelay interferometer comprising a birefringent waveplate; second andthird polarization beam splitters each receiving an output from thefirst delay interferometer; a first set of photo-detectors receiving anin-phase component of the first polarization from each of the second andthird polarization beam splitters; and a second set of photo-detectorsreceiving a quadrature component of the first polarization from each ofthe second and third polarization beam splitters; a second delayinterferometer receiving the second polarization from the firstpolarization beam splitter, the second delay interferometer comprising abirefringent waveplate; fourth and fifth polarization beam splitterseach receiving an output from the second delay interferometer; a thirdset of photo-detectors receiving an in-phase component of the secondpolarization from each of the fourth and fifth polarization beamsplitters; and a fourth set of photo-detectors receiving a quadraturecomponent of the second polarization from each of the fourth and fifthpolarization beam splitters.
 17. The optical receiver system of claim16, further comprising a second single-stage waveplate connected betweenthe third port of the circulator and the first polarization beamsplitter; wherein the control processor is further configured to controlthe second single-stage waveplate.
 18. The optical receiver system ofclaim 16, wherein the first and second birefringent elements compriseone of stabilized polarization maintaining fiber, a birefringent crystalelement, and a polarization separated diverse path element.
 19. Theoptical receiver system of claim 17, wherein the stabilized polarizationmaintaining fiber comprises active thermal stabilization.
 20. Theoptical receiver system of claim 16, wherein the polarizationcontroller, the first and second birefringent elements, and the firstsingle-stage waveplate are configured to create two orthogonalpolarization propagation modes with negligible coupling between modes;and wherein the polarization demultiplexing and polarization modedispersion mitigation section is configured to stabilize polarizationand mitigate polarization mode dispersion simultaneously.